Facts about New Zealand falcon/kārearea
A falcon in attack
One of 38 species of falcon worldwide, the New Zealand falcon is endemic to this country.
Distribution and density
The falcon has a wide distribution, being found on both the North and South Islands and several offshore islands, including Stewart Island and the subantarctic Auckland Islands.
Recently, plantation pine forests have been found to be important breeding habitats for falcons.
The highest known density of the species is found in Kaingaroa pine forest in the central North Island.
Three ecological forms
- Small dark 'Bush' falcons live in forests in the North Island, mainly south of Hamilton, and in forests of NW South Island as far south as Greymouth.
- Large paler "Eastern" falcons live in open dryer habitats east of the Southern Alps but extend from coast to coast in central South Island.
- "Southern" falcons are intermediate in size and colouration and live in Fiordland, Stewart Island and the Auckland Islands.
Fast facts
- Capable of flying at speeds over 100 km/h.
- Can catch prey larger than itself.
- Adult birds measure between 40 cm and 50 cm.
- Males are smaller than females and weigh between 240 g and 350 g while females weigh between 410 g and 640 g.
Hunting
Breeding
- Like all falcons, the New Zealand falcon does not build a nest. Rather, it makes a scrape on the ground, under a rocky outcrop or in an epiphyte in an emergent forest tree into which it lays its eggs.
- A typical clutch consists of 2-4 eggs which take about 33 days to hatch.
- Nestlings are fed by both parents but the male does most of the hunting with the female guarding close to the nest until the nestlings are close to fledging, which occurs between 31 and 45 days after hatching.
Contacts
DOC HOTline - 24 hour emergency number
Phone 0800 DOC HOTline (0800 362 468) to report:
Sick or injured wildlife
Whale or dolphin strandings